Final Task

Economic effects -> the illegitimate tribute

British continually attempted to quell national feeling through limiting national symbols and
celebrations, particularly during the 1930s

By instigating this crisis of modernity and identity in Cyprus, the British occupation helped create
deeper divisions and educational segregation—not only within the Greek and Turkish-Cypriot ethnic
groups but within factions of each community, too.

The English or American Head Teachers implemented measures that did not allow any national
emblems such as flags, pictures, or maps of the “motherlands”, i.e. Greece and Turkey. Also, the
British administration had forbidden school textbooks to be imported from the motherlands in an
effort to curb nationalistic feelings in the student population. Finally, students were not allowed to
sing the national anthems of the motherlands. On the contrary, they were encouraged to sing the
British National Anthem, “God Save the King/Queen”.

Among these, there are some respondents who also blame the British, claiming that they “poisoned
the relations between the two communities and achieved the division”.

Unanimously, the sample population of this survey responded negatively when asked about the
solution to the Cypriot problem. Replies such as “no light at the end of the tunnel”, “not confident”,
“not optimistic”

It is the view of the writers that one can discern the trends of the British colonial policies towards the
establishment of a more British society on the island.

Finally, the British Administration implemented measures which deprived the two communities
educational contact with their cultures by banning the import of Eurasian Journal of Educational
Research 15 textbooks from Greece and Turkey and by forbidding the use of national symbols or the
celebration of National Days
Britain ruled Cyprus in a way that kept its two nationalities—Greek and Turkish—politically
separate, but both impoverished.
Although Cyprus has never been part of Greece, the majority of its population shared a Greek
language, history and culture.
The substantial Turkish minority settled later after the Ottoman Empire conquered Cyprus. After
more than 300 years on the island, most saw Cyprus—not Turkey—as their long-established
home.
Greek and Turkish Cypriots tended to live in separate villages or neighbourhoods. But most of
their history together on the island was peaceful.
British colonial rule and competing imperial interests combined to push them towards war.
A regime of raising taxes that siphoned off money to Britain kept Cypriot workers and peasants in
poverty.
Thank you, Mr Secretary General and all the delegates and representatives of the United Nations, it is
an honor to be invited to such a significant occasion. My name is Khalid, the leader of the TCM
(Turkish Cypriots movements) since its creation in 1982. I am here to represent a whole nation and to
speak up for the demands of each citizen of my country. I’m in front of you today regarding all the
suffering and pain my people went through the last decades, but the main reason that brings me
here remains the fact that none of you, countries’ leaders and representatives, have taken action to
trigger the change our nation needs. All countries, big or small, strong or weak, are equal members of
the United Nations, and in that purpose, I’m asking of you not to payback what Britain has stolen
from Cyprus, neither do I ask to restore its past wealth, but I only wish you consider our miserable
situation and employ all the necessary means to cover for the legacy Britain has left. British ruled
Cyprus in a way that kept its two nationalities, Greek and Turkish, politically separate. Greek and
Turkish Cypriots tended to live in separate villages or neighborhoods. But most of their history
together on the island was peaceful. British colonial rule and competing imperial interests combined
to push them towards war. This situation resulted in many actual conflicts between Turkish and
Greece to possess the Cyprus territory. We don’t need money, what we need is peace, we don’t need
help, we need the United Nations to do its job by forcing countries to give up on violence to obtain
control over Cyprus. We want our nation to be united again, we want to be known as Cypriots not
Turkish or Greek, and for that we need both exterior and interior support. That’s why I’m also
addressing myself to all Cypriots, regardless of their origins or culture, to be tolerant towards one
another, so as to make this chaos the genesis of a new era of cohabitation, understanding, and unity
between all the Cypriots communities. As Gandhi said one time: “Unity to be real must stand the
severest strain without breaking”. So, we cannot be separated in interest or divided in purpose, as
Cypriots and humans we will stand together until the end.